Vikskärm, s.k. Byobu, Japan, tidigt 1900-tal. Okänd konstnär, möjligen signerad Sakuho.

From the collection of Helge von Knorring (1897-1985), thence by descent within the family.

The screen was a wedding gift from a Japanese minister when Mr von Knorring, in 1930 married the Czechoslovakian ministers Mr Karel Hallas daughter Denise.

Helge von Knorring was a Finnish diplomat who had a long career within the ministry of Foreign Affairs. He first comes out as a young attaché to Japan in the late 1920’s. then comes to Shanghai as the Charge d ’Affaires 1929-1932. Then he returns as an attaché in Tokyo again. The service continues with a lot of posts around the world, he was the Chargé d’Affaires in Pretoria 1949-1952, Abassador to Beijing 1952-1953, Ambassador to Bern 1953-1956.